After an outstanding performance from the bowlers, rising batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit a 15-ball half-century to help Rajasthan Royals defeat a sluggish Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in their IPL opener on Monday in Guwahati.
The Royals bowled out Chennai Super Kings out for 127 by taking advantage of the overhead conditions.
Riyan Parag put CSK in to bat on a pitch that had been covered for some time due to rain, and their batting performance was forgettable.
Since his milestone hundred in the IPL last season, the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi has advanced significantly in his career. Against a hapless CSK bowling attack, his exceptional talent was on full display.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi’s opening partner, was pleased to return the strike to his fellow left-hander after the teenager went ballistic as the Royals raced to victory in just 12.1 overs.
Sooryavanshi’s 18-run over blitz made the outcome certain. Kartik Sharma dropped him in that same over, and CSK paid a heavy price for it. A six over point off a slower ball from New Zealand bowler Matt Henry was one of his breathtaking shots.
After hitting two sixes off spinner Noor Ahmad, Sooryavanshi became the third fastest player to reach an IPL fifty. After his dismissal, Riyan Parag (14 not out off 11) and Jaiswal (38 not out off 36) finished the Royals’ formalities with plenty of overs to spare.
Prior to the season, both CSK and the Royals—the two teams that finished last—traded their star players, Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja made a successful comeback to the Royals, striking twice in his first over. The star of India’s T20 World Cup victory, Samson, struggled in his CSK debut. His off-stumped was dislodged by a crisp delivery that seamed away as he attempted to dismiss Nandre Burger over mid-wicket.
During the powerplay, Burger and Jofra Archer both got the ball to talk. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of CSK, was sent back by Archer after Nandre removed Samson. Gaikwad retreated to attempt an aerial stroke on the off-side, but his stumps were rocked.
After startling Ayush Mhatre with a bouncer that kissed the batter’s gloves on route to the keeper, Burger was on a hat-trick in the second over.
Sarfaraz Khan (17 off 12) missed a slog sweep after Jadeja came in to bowl in the seventh over and trapped him in front. Four balls later, Shivam Dube (6 off 4), another Indian World Cup star, missed to clear long-off, leaving CSK at 57-6 in eight overs.
Despite Jamie Overton’s helpful effort (43 off 36), CSK was unable to recover from that point on. On his debut, Kartik Sharma was removed by Royals medium pacer Brijesh Sharma.
Archer, Burger, and Jadeja finished with two wickets each.
